Spirit pilots threaten to strike unless contract is reached

By Palm Beach Business.com

FORT LAUDERDALE  — Spirit pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association,  say they will strike the Miramar-based carrier if they don’t reach a new contract by June 12.

That date marks the expiration of a 30-day cooling off period imposed Wednesday by the National Mediation Board. The pilots have been without a deal for more than three years.
On May 3, the NMB offered binding arbitration to both sides, which the pilots refused two days later. The National Mediation Board then imposed the 30-day cooling-off period.

 “During the past three years of negotiations, Spirit management has done everything imaginable to avoid giving our pilots a new contract that is in line with our peers at other low-cost carriers,” said Capt. Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit of pilots’ union. “But the clock is now ticking. There’s no more time for games, stall tactics, or laughable proposals. It is time for them to get serious about delivering a contract that recognizes and rewards our contributions to this airline.

“We are hopeful that setting a deadline will force this management to come to the table with reasonable expectations and reasonable proposals,” Creed said. “But make no mistake, without a contract on June 12 — Spirit pilots will strike.”